Mail-bag



(Model.)

T. O. BENNETTE S. TRENBA'TI-I.

Mail Bag.

Patented June 29,1880.

WITNBSSES. www@ NVBNTUR:

".PEERS, PHOTGLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, Dv C.

UNITED STATES PATnNT OFFICE.

THOMAS O. BENNETT .AND SAMUEL TRENBATH, OF CLIFTON, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,358, dated June 29, 1880.

Application filed April 30, 1880.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS O. BENNETT and SAMUEL TRENBA'IH, of Clifton, in the county of Keweenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specication. K

` Our invention relates to the construction of the bag itself and of a lock for securing it, and is particularly applicable to theleather pouches used for transporting the mails.

The invention consists in a novel construction of a hinged metallic frame attached to the mouth of the bag, and of a lock used in connection therewith, whereby provision is made for holding the mouth of the bag open when desired andfor securely locking it when closed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of' a mail-pouch embodying our improvements, showing the pouch open. Fig. 2 is a front view, showing the pouch closed and locked and the outer lock-plate removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the lock with two 0i' the bolts and an interiorplate removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view transversely of the bag and longitudinally ot' the lock, showing the position of all the parts when the bag is closed and locked. -A

Similar letters of reference indicate corre-v sponding parts.

The bag A is of such construction that its mouth is square when the bag is open. This square form is imparted to the mouth by means of a frame composed of six dat metallic bars, B, having their ends joined one to another by hinges. Two of the bars are of a length about equal toor slightly greater than one-quarter of' the circumference of theibag, and are arranged so as to form two opposite sides of a square. The other four bars are ar- ,ranged in two pairs, each pair being opposite attached to the bag A by means of rivets, or

(Model.)

in any suitable manner, and it serves to hohl it open, as shown in Fig. l, and enables it to be folded, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. All of the bars are provided with holes c, for the purpose hereinafter described.

On the inner side of one oi' the bars B lirst mentioned there are three studs, D D2D2, the inner or rear ends of which are secured to said bar by'riveting, or in any other suitable man ner. The outer or front ends of said studs are provided with heads for engagement with a lock, which is constructed and operated as follows:

The frame F of the lock is ot' a shape approximating to that ot' an elongated ellipse with a semicircular extension on one side. In the bottom oi' the frame are three hole-s, f f2 f2, for the purpose hereinafter described.

l The lock is provided with four bolts, two of which are for engagement with the stud D, and the other two are for engagement with the studs D2 D2. Of the two bolts Gr G (see Figs. 2 and 4) each is composed of a straight bar with a quadrantal arm or extension. The straight portion works in the elongated portion of the frame, and the quadrantal portion works in the semicircular portion of the frame. Both bolts lie near the top plate of the lockframe and in the same plane, so that they may work toward and from each other. They rest upon an intermediate plate, F2. (See Fig. 4.) Both are provided with slots g, which t over guide-pins IL, projecting from the bottom of the frame, by which means their play is limited and their rectilineal motion is preserved. The inner edge of each bar G is at a right angle with its length, and is a radial line as compared with the quadrantal extension of said bar, and said radial edge is arranged for engagement with the head of the stud D, being provided with a curved notch, vl. Below this notch c' (referring to Fig. 2) is a curvedy notch, Z, for engagement with a double-arined'key, as hereinafter described. The two bolts are kept pressed toward each other by means of a semi-elliptical spring, K, the ends of which engage with the points of junction of the quadrantal portions with the -in the same direction as the bolts G. Instead of lying in the saine plane, the bolts Mv lie one upon another, but they work in parallel planes; and instead of the notchest they are provided with slots S, through which the stud D passes freely.

The lock constructed as described, and covered by a top plate, is attached to the flap A2 of the bag by rivets, or in any other suitable manner.

When the bag is open it is held so and in square form by means of the bars B, as shown in Fig. l. It may then bel suspended by its handle a without the necessity for the employment of four hooks, as is usual in post-offices, railway mail-cars, and other places where such devices are necessary for holding bags as at present constructed. w

When the bag is to be closed the two pairs of hinged short bars are folded inward toward each other, so as to lie between the two long bars, as shown in Fig. 4. The middle stud, D, passes through the middle hole, e, ofthe bar B, then through the middle hole, f, of the bottom plate of the lock, and is then engaged by the notches i of the inner edges of the bol-ts G G, actuated by the spring K. At the same time the studs D2 D2 pass through the holes c of the bars B, then through the holes fzof the bottom plate of the lock, and are then engaged by the outer ends of the bolts M M, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

By this means the bag is securely locked, and can only be opened by means of a doublearmed key, the two arms of which, engaging with the inner edges of the bolts G G and M M, force saidv bolts in opposite directions and 4disen gage them from the studs D and D2 D2,

respectively.

Having thus described our invention, we claim `as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the bag A, of the six flat metallic bars B, having their ends hinged together, two of said bars forming opposite sides,`while the other four are arranged in opposite folding pairs, as shown and described.

2. In a lock for mail or other bags or pouches, the combination, with the frame F, of the bolts G G and spring K, for engagement with a central stud, and lthe bolts M M and spring F, for engagement with two studs on either side of said central stud, substantially as herein described.

8. The lock constructed as herein described, in combination with a bag or pouch, A, and its iiap A2, a folding frame formed of hinged bars B, having perforations e and studs D D2 D2, extending from one of said bars and passing through the perforations in the other bars when folded, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

THOMAS ORANGE BENNETT. SAMUEL TRENBATH. "Witnesses:

P. F. FARWELL, JosrAH J AMES. 

